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Posts categorized "Foster Care"

May 20, 2016

It’s an everyday occurrence at the Richmond SPCA to be in love. Whether it’s the boisterous, stocky mixed breed dog with the most beautiful smile, or the long-haired cat who’s just a little bit shy, these animals are quick to capture and captivate our hearts. However, every once in a while you meet an animal who’s extra special, who really needs you and you fall. HARD.

A couple of weeks ago Beth, a member of the Richmond SPCA’s animal care staff, approached me about having an office dog. If animals are particularly stressed in the shelter, we’ll work to alleviate that stress by having them spend the work day in an office, where things are quieter and calmer. The dog Beth told me about was older, roughly 7, and he came to us because his owner had passed away. Family tried to keep him, but the dogs they had were already a handful, so they surrendered him to the Richmond SPCA. His name is Smoke.

Smoke was understandably distressed at this change. He spent each day on his feet, never settling. He panted constantly. He wasn’t eating. But he was by no means shy. When they brought Smoke to my office he was quick to come up and introduce himself, licking my hands and wagging his long dragon tail. He wore a gray Thundershirt, which helped him to feel a bit more secure and comforted, but his stress was persistent. Smoke spent two and a half hours in my office with me that afternoon. He never sat down once. He ignored dry food and two different types of wet food, but he certainly didn’t ignore me. Smoke spent every minute by my side, nudging my elbow with his nose and laying his head on my lap whenever I stopped petting him to type. For a while I managed to type with my right hand and pet him with my left, but Smoke and I had other work to do.

The next day Smoke spent more time in my office, and things improved slowly. He laid down for 30 minutes. He ate a jar or two of chicken-flavored baby food and about six Beggin’ Strips. Still, as stressed as he was without his person, he was never shy. Every volunteer and staff member who came by my door was greeted by a smiling gray muzzle and a long white-tipped tail swaying from side to side. He’d lick their fingers and turn right around so they could scratch his rump. If they stopped he turned to face them again, still smiling, ears perked up, eyes sparkling expectantly. His love for each person was just as strong and just as tangible as it was for everyone else. He gave his heart to every stranger immediately and unapologetically.

I started to wonder late that morning how Smoke would do if he was taken out of the shelter for the night. I worried it would be tough to get permission to take him home until I spoke with Dr. Ivey, our Director of Veterinary Medicine, who happily exclaimed “take him home for the whole weekend!” It was Friday, so I did.

Smoke was an angel in the car. He’d clearly done this a thousand times before. He laid in the back while I was driving, stood to check things out whenever we stopped, and laid back down as soon as I pulled off. He aced that test. The next one was the house.

We were the first ones home that day, giving Smoke some time to explore and become familiar with the house before meeting my parents and my nephew. He came upstairs with me to do laundry, and when I pulled a blanket out of the hamper he laid on it before I was able to finish folding it. He was fascinated by the upstairs windows, alternating between watching the birds and watching me. When my family got home he ran to the door to meet them. They sat on the floor with him, and he stood in their laps. He sniffed their faces and licked their chins.

Smoke fit into the family effortlessly. Within an hour his Thundershirt was off. He didn’t need it any more. He laid on the floor with me and watched TV. He begged for my dinner and ate a bowl of mixed wet and dry food in one sitting. He made rounds between me, my parents and my nephew, getting loved on, rubbed and scratched by one person and moving on to the next. That night he slept by my bed. Saturday night it was more of the same. When he woke up at 5 a.m., I pulled a pillow and a blanket onto the floor, and he came to lay with me. He was asleep again within a few minutes.

Since Smoke has been in my office he’s changed completely. He doesn’t shake anymore, and he only pants when he’s excited. He still wears his Thundershirt just as a precaution. Smoke is the perfect dog. He’s great with kids, cats and car rides. He’s housetrained, and I’ve never seen him get into trouble. He still retains some pickiness about his food, but he can be tempted by things that are chicken flavored, and he loves eggs and Beggin’ Strips. He can be a little picky about his doggie friends too, but he’s just an older gentleman who prefers calmer company.

Generally, Smoke himself is calm, but he has his moments of sheer joy. When I get him out of his kennel in the mornings he jumps on the door, forgetting for a moment that he’s older and his hips are sore. When we walk outside together, he happily surprises me by jumping up to lick my cheek. As we walk down the halls, he nudges my hand with his nose. If I have to leave my office for a moment, I come back and look over the door to see him prancing and smiling at me, tongue hanging out and dragon tail always wagging.

Like I said, Smoke is the perfect dog. He deserves the perfect family. It hurts sometimes to know that I can’t adopt him, but I’m excited to see which awesome people will take him home – which people he’ll bring such joy and happiness to next.

Smoke has many names and nicknames in the shelter: Smoke, Smokey, Smokas, Smoke-a-Smoke, Smokers, Storm, Stormy, Sam, Sammy, and, my personal favorite, Smoka-Love. His name changes minute by minute. His heart has been the same since day one. Please come to the Richmond SPCA and meet Smoke! He’ll brighten your day. And for some lucky person, he’ll brighten your whole life.

Michelle Nicolli is the coordinator of volunteers and programs at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

December 09, 2013

Prior to the start of the holidays, we announced a special need for foster homes for dogs, and hosted a special dog-focused Meet the Fosters workshop on Dec. 18. The response was terrific, but in recent weeks we have been met with an unexpected delay in the start of construction. Our project start date has been pushed back to Feb. 3, also delaying the placement of dogs into ready foster homes. However, the postponement has allowed us to schedule a second workshop opportunity on Jan. 28 to train additional foster providers.

The Richmond SPCA is preparing for a major renovation of our dog kennels. This will be our largest construction project since our Robins-Starr Humane Center opened in 2002 and will involve demolition of six rooms of kennels in two phases. Although this project will temporarily reduce our on-site capacity to house dogs, we will continue saving the lives of homeless dogs in local government shelters by transferring them into our care throughout both phases of construction. We are calling on members of our community to join us in saving lives by fostering homeless dogs.

New foster care volunteers who attend the workshop on Jan. 28, as well as those who received training at last month's session, will be prepared to be “on deck” for placement of dogs in their homes starting Jan. 29. Many of the dogs in need of foster homes will be those who have been diagnosed with medical conditions requiring ongoing veterinary treatment prior to adoption. The foster care period will range from four to six weeks. Following the workshop, potential foster providers will be asked to complete a questionnaire that the Richmond SPCA’s foster care coordinator will use to select the dog most appropriate for the individual home.

To supplement the capacity gained through foster homes during the demolition and construction, the generous owners of Holiday Barn Pet Resorts will kindly open some of their kennels to board dogs from the Richmond SPCA. The combination of donated boarding, foster care and creatively repurposing some spaces within our own humane center will ensure that the Richmond SPCA’s lifesaving impact on the community is not diminished even while our physical space is reduced.

Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of advancement for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

December 06, 2013

The holiday season has begun. (Let’s not even get into how early it seems to begin nowadays.) The lights and decorations are up, trees are in windows and everyone is frantically shopping for their gifts. In the midst of all this, many people search for real meaning in the holiday season – they want to do something that matters and is not selfish or materialistic. Bless them.

If you are one of those wonderful people, and if you love animals (I assume that you do or you would not be reading our blog in the first place), let me suggest some things that might make this season seem more meaningful. The animals in the care of the Richmond SPCA are totally dependent on us to treat their ailments, give them love and attention and find them good and loving homes that will last for the rest of their lives. The homeless pets in government shelters all over this community, and beyond, need us desperately too. They need us to save them. They need us to remember that, while we may not be seeing them in front of us right at the moment, their lives are at risk and they urgently need us to be able to take them into our care. We can only do so by moving the pets currently into our care quickly into great and loving homes. T’is the season not just to celebrate but to save lives – all the lives we possibly can.

So, what could most give your holidays real meaning? Saving a life or many lives by doing one or more of the following:

Adopt a pet from the Richmond SPCA and share all the abundance that your family has with a very deserving and grateful new four legged family member and, in so doing, allow us to save another life from a shelter where that other precious life may right now be at risk;

Sign up at www.richmondspca.org/foster and get trained to become a foster care parent so that, when the holidays are over and we begin our kennel renovation project in January, you can help us by caring for a homeless pet for a few weeks for us;

Convince someone you know who may be considering buying a pet at the holiday season to adopt from the Richmond SPCA rather than acquiring a pet from a breeder or a pet store and, in so doing, also save another life by allowing us to take a pet from a shelter where his or her life is at risk (see above); and

Donate generously to the Richmond SPCA – we can only save lives if we have the financial resources to do so. A generous donation that saves animals will do more for your positive feelings about the holidays and yourself than another material thing could ever do. And, while we are at it, consider agreeing with your family and friends who love animals to make donations to the Richmond SPCA instead of exchanging gifts that no one really needs. Give that money so we can save the life of a dog or cat who needs it desperately.

If you will do one, or more than one, of these things, I can promise that you will feel a great sense of personal satisfaction and deep fulfillment. And, you will ensure that sweet loving homeless pets who have no one to depend on but us – meaning the Richmond SPCA and you – will have more holiday seasons in their future, ones with families who love them. And, then, have yourself a truly merry little Christmas.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

September 28, 2013

The Richmond SPCA finds permanent, loving homes for more than 3,500 cats and dogs each year. Each and every pet that enters the Robins-Starr Humane Center is uniquely different. Some pets need a little more TLC than their peers. Foster care is an excellent option for pets who need extra help to prepare them for an adoptive home.

Families and individuals who participate in the Richmond SPCA’s Meet the Fosters™ program assist homeless pets in more ways than one. First and foremost, the foster providers give the pet their time, energy and a temporary home. These efforts can assist in preparing that pet for adoption. Foster care also allows our organization to expand our lifesaving capacity beyond the walls of our physical building. Increased capacity means more pets can be cared for by the Richmond SPCA’s staff and volunteers until new, permanent homes are found.

Foster care volunteers provide temporary homes for kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs. Some pets may only need a home for several days, while others may need several weeks or months. Foster care providers do not need previous pet care experience. The Richmond SPCA will provide all necessary training and information regarding your foster pet’s care. We will also provide all the supplies you will need to successfully care for your foster pet (i.e. food, bedding, toys).

If you are interested in becoming a foster care volunteer for an adult feline, you can learn more about some of the wonderful candidates below. These felines could benefit from foster care to receive a break from our humane center. If you have any questions or comments, please visit our website or contact Tameka Peters by phone (804-521-1313) or e-mail our foster care coordinator, Tameka Peters. The next training workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23 from 6-8 p.m.

Meet Brenda! This feline has been described as being loyal, people-oriented and loveable. She prefers to spend time meeting new people and catching up with old friends over playing with toys. Even though Brenda can be a very social lady, she also enjoys her independence. She is perfectly content lounging around. She would enjoy a home with a large window so she can watch the world go by! Brenda requires a prescription diet due to a medial issue. Brenda enjoys the company of people of all ages and has done very well with other cats in this environment (in fact, she has spent the majority of her time here living in our Catillion group housing).

Summer is a laid back, loyal cat in search of a home to call her own. She prefers to take a laid back approach to life. If she had a motto, it would most likely be: “Easy does it”. She would make a wonderful companion for someone interested in expanding their family. She will head butt and rub up against you to solicit attention. She can be a purr machine at times too! Summer would do best in a quiet, calm home. She would appreciate some quiet one-on-one time being set aside for her so she can give and receive affection from her human friends. Summer is comfortable around other cats, dogs, and older children but being the laid-back feline that she is, she will not compete against them for attention. Interested in giving Summer a permanent home? Her adoption fee has been sponsored.

If you are looking to foster a charismatic feline, Meg may be the perfect foster pet for you! For a mature cat, she can still be quite playful at times! She has no problem keeping herself entertained by batting around toys, exploring her environment and scratching on carpet-style scratching posts. Due to allergies, Meg is on a prescription diet. She did well with other pets in a previous foster home but in an ideal world, she may prefer to be the only pet in the home. Meg would also prefer a foster home without small children.

Lucy is a quiet and reserved feline in search of a calm and patient home. When she is introduced to a new environment she may spend some time on the sidelines, quietly observing her surroundings. Even though she may be hesitant to engage with the activity of her environment at first, she is certainly curious! She enjoys receiving attention once she has gotten comfortable, but it may take you some time to earn her trust. Once she has warmed up to you she has a boat load of love to offer! We are certain she will make a lovable and loyal companion!

Meet Tink! This beautiful feline has a one of a kind personality. She has been described as being curious, loyal and fun-loving. She enjoys receiving attention, whether it is a long belly rub or a short snuggle session. If you are not already giving her attention and she is longing for it, she will not hesitate to solicit it! She would much rather spend time with people than play with toys (in fact, she appears to think that playing with toys is silly!). Tink would do best in a home without other cats.

Alison Carlin is the Manager of Volunteers and Programs at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

September 12, 2013

Volunteers are an important component of each and every department at the Richmond SPCA and help our organization run smoothly. There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available every day of the week. Volunteer jobs include everything from cleaning and administrative tasks, to dog walking and cat calming. We do our very best to ensure that our volunteers have job opportunities available to them that match up with their personal interests and skill level. Many of our student volunteers have gone back to school and we need help filling some of our daytime shifts.

The lifesaving work we do would not be possible without the help and support of our passionate and dedicated volunteers. In that last year, we have had over 1,200 volunteers perform work for our organization and for that, we are truly grateful.

Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older to volunteer independently. We welcome parent-child and family volunteer teams, so if a potential volunteer is 7 years of age or older, he or she may still volunteer at our Robins-Starr Humane Center under the direct supervision or a parent or guardian. Some of our volunteer jobs are perfect for a pair or small group!

If you would like to donate your time to our humane center, we encourage
you to attend one of our upcoming volunteer information sessions. These sessions
provide an overview of our organization as a whole. Current volunteer training
requirements and needs will also be discussed. Potential volunteers may then fill
out an application to become an active Richmond SPCA volunteer. Our next volunteer
information session will be held on Wednesday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to 12
p.m. You can learn more and register here.

If you are
unable to donate your time in-house, that is okay! We currently have several volunteer opportunities that can be done (mostly) from the comfort of your own home or
neighborhood.

Community wash-a-thon events: In August we held our first-ever community wash-a-thon event. Community
volunteers were able to stop by our humane center to pick up a bag (or two!) of
dirty laundry and washing instructions. After the laundry was washed, dried and
folder it was dropped off back to us. We are thrilled to share that we
distributed 38 bags in only 3 hours! Our next community wash-a-thon will be held on
Saturday, September 21. Laundry and washing instructions can be picked up at
the front desk of our Robins-Starr Humane Center anytime between 11 a.m. and 5
p.m.

Foster care: By offering your time, energy, and home to an orphaned animal in need, you help prepare that animal for adoption into a permanent home. Foster care also increases our capacity to shelter and care for orphaned animals beyond the walls of our humane center. If you would like to learn more about becoming a foster care volunteer, you can visit us online or contact Tameka Peters, our Foster Care Coordinator, by phone at 804-521-1313 or by email.

Wish list drives: If
you are part of a group that is interested in taking on a project to help
orphaned animals in our community? If so, you may be interested in conducting a
wish list drive! Wish list drives help us stock up on items that are necessary
to keep our humane center running smoothly. You can view our wish list here.

For more
information about becoming a new volunteer at the Richmond SPCA, please contact Alison
Carlin, Manager of Volunteers and Programs by phone at 804-521-1329 or by
email.

Alison Carlin is the manager of volunteers of the Richmond SPCA. To read the biography of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

February 22, 2013

Astrid was emaciated when the Richmond SPCA took her into our care in 2007.

The Richmond SPCA and its wonderful staff and volunteers do things everyday for animals that reflect their deep commitment but sometimes there is a particular example of profound love of, and dedication to, animals that overwhelms me. That is why I want you to know about Astrid.

One day several years ago, I was working when our Director of Shelter Operations came into my office in tears. She was horrified about a small hound that had just been brought to us by an owner for relinquishment. The little female hound was horribly emaciated and Angi believed that she had been intentionally starved. We agreed to set aside any other admissions review of the dog and simply take her into our care immediately to remove her from what we believed to be a situation of horrific neglect. What we found in the succeeding weeks was that Astrid was emaciated because she had megaesophagus. That is a condition in which peristalsis fails to occur properly and the esophagus is enlarged. Normally, the esophagus acts as a muscle that pushes the food down the esophagus and into the stomach. However, with megaesophagus, the esophagus stays enlarged and does not push the food down to the stomach so the food often stays in the esophagus and is eventually regurgitated. It results in an animal essentially starving even though he or she is being fed food. It also causes the esophagus to become terribly inflamed due to the constant regurgitation back through it.

Astrid began to gain weight after our staff began feeding her in an upright, standing position.

Astrid had to be fed in small amounts numerous times a day and in a position standing on her back legs so that gravity would take the food down into her stomach. As our staff did this procedure with her, she began to gain weight. Because Astrid felt hungry almost all the time, it was hard to keep her from eating things that she should not consume. Needless to say, finding an adopter for a dog with this condition and these management requirements was not easy, and the guardian really had to be someone who would be at home with her most all the time.
Despite how hard her life was, Astrid was always sweet, affectionate and gentle with such a pretty little face.

Remarkably, we found a very kind elderly man who took Astrid into his home and his heart. For several years, he gave her the care she needed. But the time came when his age and his own poor health prevented him from continuing to do so. Then, we took Astrid back into our care. Astrid’s condition had significantly worsened over the years. But, our staff and volunteers loved her so much, and we knew that Astrid would probably have to remain in our care for the rest of her days. Barclay Finck built Astrid a sort of chair in which she could sit upright to be fed, making the experience more comfortable for her than trying to stand up on her back legs. Our staff members fed her numerous times a day in the chair. Jamie Campbell took her home for a few weeks, including Thanksgiving to give her a happy holiday in a family setting. Volunteers Donna Halasz and Marge Arrighi loved Astrid and walked her and showered love and attention on her.

This continued until a few weeks ago when the time came, as we always knew it would, when Astrid's problems could no longer be managed. She no longer could keep any food down, not even baby food, no matter how long she was kept upright. She became terribly thin and famished all the time. Her esophagus was so inflamed that she cried out at the pain of it. We had her on pain medication but it soon became clear that she was in pain and starving and there was no hope for anything better in the future.

During her last days and hours, Astrid was lovingly cared for by Brittany Pierri and no one could ever have given more focused, tender care, hour after hour, to anyone than that Brittany gave to Astrid. It finally was clear to our veterinary professionals as well as to Brittany and all of us that Astrid was truly suffering and had no hope of any further quality of life. With many tears, she was lovingly helped out of this life and into God’s hands by Dr. Rosalie Gibson and Brittany. I could never adequately express to our staff and volunteers how much it meant to my heart to watch their loving care of Astrid over such a long time. She had years of love, happiness and security that she would never have received without their devotion to her. They make me so proud of what a truly remarkable organization the Richmond SPCA is. There is no other organization like it on the face of the earth and that is because of its remarkable people whose hearts are committed to the animals who need us and who show that commitment in their daily acts of kindness. I thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

December 14, 2012

To
encourage adoption during December, the Priority Automotive Group is sponsoring
the adoption fee for any pet adopted from the Robins-Starr Humane Center
between Dec. 12 and Dec. 31. That’s
right – you supply the loving home and Priority will pay the adoption fee.

Whether
you’re adopting an adult dog or cat or a puppy or kitten, the
Richmond SPCA is a one-stop shop! There’s no need to go running around to
multiple stores and sites in order to be prepared for your new pet’s
homecoming. All the items you need are
conveniently in one place at our Lora Robins Gift Shop, and the best part is all
of your purchases directly benefit orphaned pets in our humane center.

Our adoption counselors are happy to walk through the shop with you and give you pointers on the types of products that
will be especially helpful. As an added
bonus many of us “road test” these products with our own pets and can tell you
what works well with the Feline-ality or Canine-ality of the particular pet
that is joining your family.

Planning to crate train the young dog joining your family? We'll help you decide on the right size to see him through adolescence to adulthood along with busy toys to keep boredom at bay. With every crate purchase, we'll add a free crate mat to keep your companion comfy. Taking home your very first feline? We have a starter kit for kitties that includes a litter box and liners, food and water bowl, and a litter scoop, all for $23.99. Add a cat carrier and a few Zanies toys (a steal at 5 for $4) and you'll be set! Our
selection of high-quality merchandise can’t be beat, and our prices are
comparable if not better than that of larger chain pet stores.

Our
retail staff is extremely knowledgeable about all the items we carry in our
store and will be able to assist with fitting collars, harnesses or just
offering up information about how certain products function. It doesn’t end there! When you spend $25 or more in our gift shop on
your new furry family member we’ll send you home with a bag of food for him or her absolutely free.

So why shop anywhere else? We have what
your four-legged friend needs, and just by shopping with us you’re helping to
save lives! What more could you ask for
this holiday season?

Please
note that all puppies and adult dogs adopted from the Richmond SPCA must leave
our care with an acceptable leash and collar, and every kitten and adult cat
must leave our care in a safe and secure cat carrier. If these items are not
with you at the time of the adoption, you will need to purchase them in
our Lora Robins Gift Shop, which has a fabulous selection of merchandise that
is affordably priced with all proceeds benefitting our homeless animals.

Abby Waller is the retail and procurement manager for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 03, 2012

While
the majority of pets in our care unite with loving new families in less than
one month’s time, we do have some special dogs and cats who take a while longer to find a home. Many of them are senior pets or those with chronic medical needs or behavioral
challenges. These wonderful dogs and
cats often get passed over by potential adopters whose home isn't the right match,
and they stay in our care longer than most
of their fellow four-legged pals.

As a no-kill
shelter, we have guaranteed these animals a safe place in our care as long
as it takes to give them the loving care and training they need while they await their match. While they remain in
our care, our team gets to know them and their personalities even better, which
means we have great information to share with their new families once they do
go home. And when they do walk through our doors on their way to an even
brighter and happier future, our team will be here as a resource for their
adoptive families, so we can help the transition go smoothly.

Our expert trainers are well-equipped to prepare pet guardians with the tools necessary
to care for their new companion and his needs. If potential adopters are
willing to put in the time and patience, we are ready and able to set them up
for success. Our veterinary
staff is equally capable and
eager to help new guardians care for cats and dogs with medical needs
ranging from special diets to post-injury management. Our adoption counselors
can help potential adopters determine whether or not their home would be a
match for the
pets who
are long overdue for their move to a permanent home.

Want to be a hero to a special dog or cat who needs you? The following pets
have been in our care for more than five months and are available
for adoption today at the
Robins-Starr Humane Center. Some of them are also eligible for our Foster to
Adopt program, where people can take them home into foster care first to determine if a lasting match can be made. Give these terrific pets, who so desperately want your love and
attention, a try. It just might be the best decision you ever make!

Long-term dogs

Amy is an active 2-year-old Australian Shepherd and hound mix who weighs about 43 lbs. She is smart, sweet and spunky, making her a wonderful companion. She makes an awesome running partner and is a regular of our Running Buddies program, where volunteers take dogs out for extra exercise and attention. She also loves playing with toys and will flop over for a belly rub when the game is over. Amy is looking for an adult-only home where she is the only pet. She would do best with someone who wants a canine sidekick to keep up with their active lifestyle.

Dwight is a 3-year-old pit mix who weighs about 52 lbs. He is a sweet and bubbly butterball who loves playing and cuddling. He loves hanging out with his friends, going for walks, and crashing on the couch at the end of the day. It takes him a while to warm up to new people, but once he’s your friend, he’s one of the most loyal and loving dogs around. He would do best as the only pet in a home without children or many visitors so that he can feel safe and secure in his routine.

Rina is a 7-year-old Bluetick Coonhound and Walker hound mix who weighs about 47 lbs. She is a calm, cool and collected lady looking for a quiet home where she will be comfortable. She loves cats of all ages and wouldn’t mind sharing a home with feline family members. She does need to be the only dog in the home and needs an adult-only household. Although she prefers peace and quiet, she isn’t just a lazy hound dog! Rina makes a great running buddy and enjoys outdoor adventures. Please also note that she is eligible for our Seniors for Seniors program, which allows any guardian over the age of 60 can adopt any pet over the age of 5 for a reduced adoption fee and receive a free starter kit from the Lora Robins Gift Shop.

Long-term cats

Summer is a 10-year-old cat who spent many years of her life without a guardian. Because of her background, she is shy at first, but warms up quickly and loves attention! She gets along well with other cats. She will not compete with them for attention, so sometimes is hard to tell just how loving she is when there are other cats around. Summer will make a wonderful companion and is eligible for our Seniors for Seniors program.

Tuesday is an 11.5-year-old kitty who is the definition of distinguished. She likes to be treated like a queen and doesn't enjoy the company of other cats. She is quiet and calm. Her personality is a wonderful balance between independent and affectionate. She has some allergies that require a special diet, on which she has done well in our care. Tuesday will make a great companion for anyone looking for an only cat that likes attention and alone time. She is also eligible for our Seniors for Seniors program.

Brenda is a 3-year-old cat who is awesome company for cats and people alike. She loves being petted and being close. She is happy to hang out with you or do her own thing if you’re busy. Being a black cat, Brenda has been overlooked despite all of her awesome qualities. She does well with people of all ages and happily greets visitors as they enter the catillion. She would do well in a home with or without other cats where she can get attention, then sneak away for alone time when she wants to take a cat nap.

Hannah is a 3.5-year-old cat who has been living here almost her whole life. She is very sweet, and although she doesn't like being held, she loves sitting in your lap and being petted. She has some anxiety issues which are much improved with medication. Due to her anxiety and her resulting behavior, she would likely do best as an only pet so she doesn't get too nervous and upset herself or other pets. Hannah is looking for a patient and understanding guardian to help her feel comfortable and happy.

Brandy is a 5-year-old cat who is our longest resident. She has an adorable face you can't help but love. She loves playing with toys and knows how to sit on command. She is an independent gal who gets along well with other cats, as long as they're okay with her being in charge! She has been waiting for a home for years and it would be wonderful if she could ring in the New Year in a real home. She is eligible for our Seniors for Seniors program.

Linley Beckner is the coordinator of community relations for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

September 25, 2012

Hello potential foster care volunteers! My name is Alexa Johnson, and I have been working on my Girl Scout Gold Award project to increase the number of foster care volunteers providing care to orphaned kittens at the Richmond SPCA.

I have fostered a total of eight kittens this summer and fall, six over the summer and then two just recently that are now back at the Richmond SPCA waiting to be adopted. Take note: two is much easier than six!

Foster care is extremely important to the lives of thousands of kittens. Foster care volunteers take care of kittens from the Richmond SPCA until they are old enough and healthy enough to be adopted. This makes room for the Richmond SPCA to transfer kittens out of area government shelters where their fate is uncertain and come to the Robins-Starr Humane Center. The time that foster care is most important is during “kitten season,” which is traditionally April-September. But because of the warm winters, kitten season is reaching past September and into October and November.

During the summer, students, teachers and others take part in fostering, enabling 973 kittens to be placed in temporary foster homes just this past summer. However, in the fall, after the return to school and our busy schedules, it is imperative not to forget about the kittens that still need fostering at the Richmond SPCA. There are still kittens that need your help!

Despite being a junior in high school, working after school and my mom working full time, we managed to take in two more kittens in September. If we can do it, so can you! So as your schedules pick up and you become busy again for fall, please do not forget about all the kittens that need your help now more than ever!

Sign up for the upcoming Meet the Fosters training workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 26 to learn how you can get involved in the Richmond SPCA’s lifesaving foster program. Infant kittens as well as adult dogs and cats rely on our volunteer foster care program for socialization, recuperation after an illness or injury and for respite from the shelter. www.richmondspca.org/foster

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

June 14, 2012

I’m Alexa Johnson and I’m working on my Girl Scout Gold Award project. I am working with the Richmond SPCA to increase the number of foster care volunteers. And that is the reason that my mom and I decided to foster! For about the next three weeks, we are the proud foster parents of SIX (yes six!) 5-week-old kittens!

All of them have their own personalities, and it is fun to get to know each of them. They keep each other company, and watching them play together is like its own television show. As time passed, the kittens have gotten more and more outgoing and energetic and of course they are growing.

When it's bed time, they all pile into the bed, even if fitting means lying on top of each other. We have our own 8-year-old tabby cat, and a 5-year-old golden retriever. Our 85 lbs. dog won’t look the kittens in the eye, and although he is a lot bigger than them, they approach him and follow him around the living room. Our cat sticks up his nose at them and doesn’t like them to get to close to them, but he always watches intently as they play.

We are so glad that we are giving these kittens a brighter future because without the Richmond SPCA and the Meet the Fosters™ program their fate would be uncertain. Please consider taking some kittens under your wing — foster a kitten, save a life!

Editor's note: Alexa is also collecting supplies to help other foster care volunteers. One of the most essential supplies for kitten foster care is KMR, a milk replacement formula that is bottle fed to the tiniest infant kittens. Petco in Short Pump has a donation box where KMR and other foster care supplies can be dropped off to help the Meet the Fosters™ program.

Want to get involved? Meet the Fosters™ training workshop Wednesday, June 20, 6-8 p.m. at the Robins-Starr Humane Center, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA Click here for more information and to register.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.